Friday 27 June 2008

Big bag


I have just finished making this bag, and is on Japanese Auction from today for 4 days.
I have used the European linen for the base, and a cotton fabric made in Pakistan for the outer pocket. I found this fabric in Spotlight, curtain section.

Size of this bag is W:33cm, H:29cm, D:13~10cm


The bag comes with a removable strap to fit to this side metal fittings.
This side pocket fits your mobile phone, or ipod.



Both outer pockets are fastened with a magnet hock, and has smaller pockets inside it for both pockets.


There are 4 inner pockets, and one is a removable pouch with a zipper.
This pouch has card pockets that will hold total of 6 cards.
You can store your purse or any valuables in this pouch for extra security.
The cotton fabric used inside is purchased at Spotlight.

Tuesday 24 June 2008


The previous version of the sewing box.
The cross stitch is from Sajou, and it is stitched on the European Linen.


This blue fabric is from Laura Ashley.
This sattle colour is just beautifully matched to the European Linen.

This is the inside of the box.
Two removable mini boxes, a mini scissor case, pin cushion, and a small case for small quilting patterns or to use as a bin.

It is on Japanese Auction for 3 more days.

patchworked bag


This is the second bag of this version, "embroidered girl".


The patchworks are all done with using antique feed sack fabrics.


This is the extra pocket inside the outer pocket.


The inside has 3 card holders on one side, and a mobile phone pocket and a normal pocket on the other side.


This is the back side of the bag.
The girl has just kicked one of her room shoes.
Where did it go?
You can find it somewhere in the patchwork at the front.

Tuesday 17 June 2008

Retro chic shoulder bag


I have just put this bag into Japanese auction.
It's quite different from my previous works, but I just felt like a change in my style.
The patchwork for the front pocket is all done with using an antique feed sack, and I used my original embroidery of the retro girl as part of it.


There are an extra pocket inside the outer pocket, and is fastned by magnet hock.
The pocket holds a memo pad, and a pen.


This is one of the inside pocket. It has a 3D pocket for your mobile phone, and a normal flat pocket next to it with a stamp.
The inner fabric is cute isn't it? Its an apple pattern fabric I found in the Spotlight.


This is the other side of inner pocket, and it holds 3 cards.
I used 3 types of feed sack fabrics.


The strap is adjustable in length, so you can use it long or short, whichever you like.
It actually matches well with green outfit, doesn't it!

Saturday 14 June 2008

stitches, and stitches


I have been working on this cross stitch for 2 weeks now.
I haven't done much as I was busy doing the other things.
But now, I like to work hard on this stitch and move on.


While I was working on the above cross stitch,
I was also playing around with line stitches.
I wanted to try draw a character with embroidery,
and this is my first one.

Since I had few Retro chic feed sacks, I have
combined it with them and ..


Came up with this.
I will use a red fabric as a base and make a medium size bag with it.
I actually like the stamped phrase.
I don't know what it says because it's in French,
but apparently, it's a love letter.


At first I was going to use this patchwork of feed sacks,
but she didn't really match with this colour pattern,
so I have stitched another girl to match with this pattern.


I hope she match well with it.
It will be a same medium bag, but I still haven't decided on the base colour.

Friday 13 June 2008

cute sanitary set

These are the items I have put on Yahoo Japan auction today.
I have named it "ef set" (earth friendly set).
Why?
Because it comes with my hand made fabric sanitary napkins.
3 of regular wing napkins, and 1 nigh size napkin.
This is the purse to put your sanitary items or your cosmetics in.
It has a removable strap, so you can use it with or without the strap.
The lid is fastened by the snap hock.

There are total of 4 rooms inside the purse, one room with a zipper for privacy.
To finish up these sides were difficult. I had to think really hard on how I sew them together.

This is the sanitary sotrage box. It's quite cute isn't it?

The lid is fastened by the hidden magnet hock.

Wednesday 11 June 2008

wrong size and...

The second box is done, but I don't like the size of it.
I think it's too big. I know it's better to be big than to be small, but, I think it doesn't apply for things which the apearance matters most.

This is the purse as a set with the box, and again, I am not satisfied with it.

There are some difficulties with the side stitches, which I think I now know what to do.



I will try them again with these patchworks. These are the fabrics I have collected long time ago, and I just don't really like them. I don't know if it has something to do with the age, or just my taste has changed since then, but I am not really sure how this turns out.

Monday 9 June 2008

fabric napkin box & purse

Well, I had been down since there were no bidders on my bag.
I have given that bag and the new bag I was making to my husband, who will give them away to his students as a prize for good behaviour, or their cleverness.
I now learned that the e-bay bidder behaviour is quite different from the Yahoo bidders.
Very interesiting!
And there is one more thing.
It so happens that I actually don't enjoy working with Japanese fabrics!
Well, I may try e-bay again one day, but for now, I have another thing in my mind.
This is the box I made last night, only with fabrics this time.
It's my trial version, so I have used a scrap fabrics.

This is a box I use to sotre my sanitary items (the lady's things).

For many women who are concious about saving the environment, it is a common sense now a days to use a fabric menstrual napkins.

I have been making them and sold a lot over these few years to the Japanese ladies.

I was forced to stop the production due to poor quality of flannel cotton sold here.

Since then, I have used the hand spun and woven organic cotton fabrics which I had in my stock long time ago. Now the stock is low, I have to seek a good material, preferably organic cotton..

Anyway, I have stored all of my fabric napkins in this box.


It has a lid with magnetic button. I will be putting the handles on the sides.

This is a fabric napkin purse which I am thinking to sell as a set with the box above.

I'll be selling these items together with a supply of my fabric napkins.

And obviously they will be put on Japanese auction, but I'll just check the categories in e-bay if there is any oportunity there..

Friday 6 June 2008

update on my previous sewing box

I just realised that I haven't uploaded the finished picture of the sewing box!
Here they are...

And this is the inside part.

The fabric I used for inside is from Japan Liberty Masaki collection.

It's really popular now despite the price.

Few people are fighting over it, but the auction will finish tonight.

It's already gone above the previous price, so I am already happy!

Now, this is the big bag I just finished last night.

I never liked quilted bag, so why did I make it?

Well, I just thought I try.

And, I found that I actually like making a quilted bag!

This is the back side.

Fabrics I used are feed sacks as usual, and the base fabric is the fabric I bought at IKEA.

I love it's texture, and the colour goes so well with the feed sack!

And as usual, it is the zipper bag, which I love for the security reason.

There are few points that I want to improve, so I have put it on auction cheap this time.

It's in Yahoo Japan auction from today for 4 days.

Thursday 5 June 2008

New design bag with quilting


I worked on this bag all day yesterday. This side pocket is where I concentrated most.

I wanted to make a unique side pocket design, and this is how it turned out. I need to make a button for the loop, but it can be done later.

The feed sacks I have used are all with white background, and some purple in the pattern. I patchworked them in a narrow fan shape, and then machine quilted it.

It was my first time to do machine quilting, but I found it fun! I think I like to do more quilting!

This is the back side of the bag. I have used the plain cloth and put a small pocket onto it. The pocket has a quilting cotton in it as well.


This is the new idea I have in mind right now. I have been making a sewing boxes with cross stitches, but to frame it would be nice as well. This is the craft from Denmark, called Aeska, and is a bit different from Cartonnage from France.

I don't know what I embroider, and whether I do cross stitch or not, but I do like to start on it pretty soon.

Wednesday 4 June 2008

my bag in the e-bay auction!

Finally, I have entered this bag into e-bay auction!
Here are detailed pictures of the bag.

As you can see from the picture above, I have made a big outer pocket just under the flap, and there are two pockets inside. One is for cards, and other is just one big pocket.

The shoulder strap is adjustable in length, so wear it long, or short, whichever you like.


The matching fabric to the plain cotton canvas is from my collection of Japanese fabrics.

I have loads of them, so I am thinking of making more bags with them, but maybe in different shape from next time.

I am now working on my next bag, which will be made with feed sacks, and this will be for the auction in Japan. I hope this will turn out all right...